Exploratory study of non-ordinary states of consciousness during sleep show distinct electrophysiological features from wakefulness and canonical sleep stages.
Nerea L Herrero, Yohann Corfdir, Aylin A Vázquez-Chenlo, Lucila Capurro, Cecilia Forcato
Scientific Reports September 29, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-18748-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Exploratory study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Frequent experiencers of non-ordinary states of consciousness |
| Duration | Overnight |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Non-ordinary states of consciousness during sleep are distinct from wakefulness yet share features with both stage 1 and REM sleep. |
Abstract
Consciousness does not always fade during sleep. Instead, it can re-emerge in the form of non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC), such as lucid dreams (LDs), sleep paralysis (SP), out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and false awakenings (FAs). While some of these states have been studied phenomenologically, their neurophysiological underpinnings remain unclear. In this exploratory study, we investigate their electrophysiological correlates and distinguish them from standard sleep stages. We conducted overnight polysomnography in frequent experiencers, capturing 10 episodes (3 LDs, 2 SP, 2 OBEs, 3 FAs). Eye movement markers identified periods of lucidity. Relative spectral power was analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and permutation-based multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Our results indicate that these NOSC are distinct from wakefulness, yet share features with both stage 1 (S1) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.